Mitres continue 100% record in the first of Bank Holiday double
A brace from Ross Langworthy and a goal from Lewis Spurrier helped Bishops Cleeve make it three wins out of their first three opening league games on Saturday afternoon, writes Alfie Richmond.
Cleeve began the bank holiday weekend with two wins from two in the league, one of only six teams to achieve the feat. The visitors arrived with a win and a defeat from their opening two league games.
It took just four minutes for the hosts to open the scoring. Luke Payne’s floated cross was not dealt with by Tavistock keeper William Howard, and the ball fell nicely for Lewis Spurrier to knock home from four yards.
After a nightmare start for the visitors, they began to settle, though clear chances remained scarce.
Shouts for a red card from the Tavistock bench were waved away by the referee when he cautioned Matt Liddiard for bringing down striker Ryan White near the half-way line on 27 minutes. The resulting free-kick brought a strong save out of Lewis Clayton following Joel Jackson’s low effort.
Just 2 minutes remained of the first half when Cleeve got their second, arguably against the run of play. Jack Watts’s cut-back found Ross Langworthy in a crowded area, who cleverly got his snap-shot in to find the back of the net. The Mitres’ strong end to the half put them two to the good at the break.
Huge cries for handball were made by the away side 10 minutes into the second half, when White’s strike struck Cleeve defender Jake Lee in the penalty area. The referee waved play on, and Tavistock fought to force a way back.
Those efforts were swiftly shut down when Langworthy netted his second on 62 minutes. Joe Jeremiah’s delightful out-swinging cross found the head of the home side’s skipper, who delicately flicked it past Howard to make it 3-0.
18 minutes remained and Cleeve’s quality began to prevail. Jack Watts was denied after a lovely move involving the newly introduced Curtis Jemmett-Hutson and Toby Holland.
Watts had another effort blocked off the line in the dying minutes to make it 4 before the referee blew the final whistle, confirming the 3-0 win for the hosts.
It’s a quick turnaround for both sides, with their next games coming up on Bank Holiday Monday. Cleeve face a trip to Sporting Club Inkberrow, before returning to Kayte Lane next Saturday to host Wimbourne Town in the FA Cup first round qualifying phase. Back-to-back home games await Tavistock; the first being Brixham AFC, also on the Monday. They too kick off their FA Cup qualifying campaign on the following Saturday against Swindon Supermarine.
Bishops Cleeve: Clayton; Payne, Lee, Nelmes, Liddiard, Mclean, Watts, Langworthy ©, Malshanskyj, Jeremiah, Spurrier.
Subs: Holland (70’), Leeson (75’), Turley (67’), Jemmett-Hutson (63’), Evans-Harriott (72’).
Tavistock AFC: Howard; Cross ©, Wright, Jackson, Fowles, White, Bowker, Northam, Lindsell, Fisher, Harris.
Subs: Edworthy (65’), Baxter, Spong, Hughes (88’).
C Martin Roofing Man of the Match – Lewis Spurrier (Bishops Cleeve)
READ MORE: Check out the list of Saturday’s results in and around Gloucestershire right here
